KOZHIKODE: The controversy over the Thiruvambadi constituency took a new turn on Saturday with IUML national secretary E.T. Muhammed Basheer saying that the IUML was ready for a rethink on the seat if it gets an equally winnable seat.
Addressing a press conference in Jeddah, Mr Basheer expressed his willingness to return the Thiruvambadi seat to the Congress in exchange for a sure seat. “The letter of P.K. Kunhalikkutty also says the same,” Mr Basheer said.
The move of the IUML leadership has put the Congress in a tight spot as the ball is in its court now. The Congress has to search for a seat which would be acceptable to the IUML.
However, the Malayora Vikasana Samithy is happy that a Congress candidate with the blessings of the Church can be fielded from Thiruvambady. Meanwhile, the Catholic Laymen’s Association, an organisation of rebels in the Church, criticised the Thamarassery diocese move to play politics bringing shame to the believers.
A resolution passed by the CLA on Friday said that the Malayora Vikasana Samithy is another outfit of the diocese like the former Paschimaghatta Samrakshana Samithy of which the bishop was the convener. He was instrumental in triggering arson and violence in the high ranges of Malabar, the release said.
The association also asked the major archbishop to take action against Bishop Remegius Inchananiyil for his involvement in cheap political conspiracies and creating conflict among believers. “Priests and bishops are assigned to look after the spiritual needs of the believers. But now they act as political leaders,” the resolution said.
